wizdmzchyld message #1
Moderating machines
January 8, 2010 at 9:21:25 AM
 
Hi, I'm Charlene.  I've been 2 stick knitting since I was five and machine knitting for about three years.  I have two machines an LK150 and a Brother/Knitking 260 with ribber.

I've learned to make slippers, shrugs, (thanks to Judi Meisner) fulled/felted hats, sweaters, blankets and chair socks (my own idea).

Currently, I'm having a new problem.  In Kansas static electricity isn't usually a difficulty.  However, with the serious cold recently and heaters on in the house, it's become a real problem.

When knitting machines build up electricity in dry air, it causes the carriage to *seize*.  The carriage won't move.  Releasing the carriage (on the 260 that's turning the nob to CR) one must use care to work the carriage off the needles.

There are a number of things I found recommended for defeating static, one of which is to attach copper pennies to the underside of the bed.  Another is to loosen a screw and wind a copper strand from a kitchen copper scrub pad and attach the other end to the leg of the table.  Anti static pads used under the chair are also supposed to work.  Using the wax donuts on the yarn mast to wax the yarn as it travels to the machine is another suggestion.  I've never had one of those, so will be searching for a source to add that to my repertoire as well.

Keep your machine well clear of lint by using a lint free cloth to wipe off the fuzzies that build up as you knit.  I have the Armorall ones that dispense like baby wipes.  We have a humidifier in our home but it's not a large one so doesn't really do enough.

Gad, I just looked out the window.  It's snowing AGAIN.  I'm so ready for this winter to be over.

Hopefully, this friendly knitting machine slot will be a source of help, inspiration and challenge to all machine knitters.  I'm sure there are others on the list with more talent and experience than I have, so PLEASE contribute.

Sincerely,
Charlene

wizdmzchyld message #4
Re: Moderating machines
March 27, 2010 at 8:19:57 PM
 
Hello Judi, I'm tickled that you're here and looking.  Glad you are because I think you have volumes to add to the site.  Have you seen my pictures yet?  I'm just about to post photos of my latest shrug. 

Charlene